Brachytherapy device assembly and method of use

A tissue radiation device assembly which is adapted to deliver radiation to a region of tissue at a desired location along a body space wall which defines at least a portion of a body space in a patient, comprising:

• a radiation member with a radiation source and a source coupler having a wall with an inner surface forming a source passageway;
• and
• a first delivery member with a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a delivery coupler on the distal end portion which includes a spring that is compressible against an outward bias force,
• the first delivery member being adapted to removably engage the radiation member by compressing the spring of the delivery coupler within the source passageway such that the outward bias force is directed against the inner surface of the lumenal wall;
• a storage assembly with a housing that forms a storage chamber and also with a radiation shield having an adjustable window coupled to the storage chamber and that is adjustable between an open position and a closed position relative to the storage chamber,
• wherein the open position the storage chamber communicates externally of the housing and is adapted to receive the radiation source or have the radiation source removed with the first delivery member through the window, and
• wherein the closed position the storage chamber is substantially radioactively isolated within the housing at least at the adjustable window.

A tissue radiation device assembly which is adapted to deliver radiation to a region of tissue at a desired location along a body space wall which defines at least a portion of a body space in a patient, comprising:

• a radiation member with a radiation source;
• a first delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion which is adapted to engage the radiation member;
• a delivery catheter assembly with a proximal end portion, a distal end portion with an expandable member having an outer surface and which is adapted to be positioned within the body space by manipulating the proximal end portion of the delivery catheter assembly outside of the patient, and a radiation passageway extending between a proximal port along the proximal end portion of the delivery catheter assembly and the distal end portion of the delivery catheter assembly distally of the centering member;
• an endolumenal prosthesis positioned on the outer surface of the expandable member and being adjustable with the expandable member from a radially collapsed condition, which is characterized by the expandable member in a radially collapsed position and is adapted to be delivered into the body space, to a radially expanded condition, which is characterized by the expandable member in a radially expanded position and which is adapted to radially engage the body space wall,
• wherein the first delivery member is further adapted to slideably engage the radiation passageway such that the radiation member is positioned within the expandable member, and wherein the expandable member is further adapted to position the radiation passageway substantially at the radial center of the body space at the desired location;
• wherein the radiation member further includes a source coupler, and the first delivery member further includes a delivery coupler which is adapted to removably engage the source coupler;
• a storage assembly with a housing having a storage chamber and also with a radiation shield having an adjustable window engaged to the housing which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position,
• wherein the open position the storage chamber communicates externally of the housing and is adapted to receive the radiation source or have the radiation source removed with the first delivery member through the window, and
• wherein the closed position the storage chamber is substantially radioactively isolated within the housing at least at the adjustable window.

A tissue radiation device assembly which is adapted to deliver radiation to a region of tissue at a desired location along a body space wall which defines at least a portion a body space in a patient, comprising:

• a centering device having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis, an outer tube, an inner tube, and a centering member,
• the outer tube having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an outer tube lumen extending between the proximal and distal end portions of the outer tube,
• the inner tube having a proximal end portion slideably engaged within the outer tube lumen, a distal end portion extending distally from the outer tube lumen, and an inner tube lumen extending between a proximal centering port along the proximal end portion of the inner tube and the distal end portion of the inner tube, and
• the centering member having an expandable member with a plurality of longitudinal splines, each longitudinal spline having a proximal end secured to the outer tube and a distal end which is secured to the distal end portion of the inner tube, and each spline extending along the longitudinal axis in a radially collapsed position and being further adjustable to deflect radially outwardly in a radially expanded position by adjusting either the outer tube distally relative to the inner tube or the inner tube proximally relative to the outer tube;
• wherein the inner tube lumen forms a centering passageway which is adapted to slidably receive a radiation member within the centering member, and wherein the centering member is adapted to position the centering passageway substantially at the radial center of the body space at the desired location by radially engaging the body space wall with the expandable member in the radially expanded position;
• a radiation member with a radiation source;
• and
• a first delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion which is adapted to engage the radiation member,
• wherein the first delivery member is further adapted to slideably engage the centering passageway such that the radiation member is positioned along the centering member;
• the radiation member further comprising a source coupler;
• and
• the first delivery member further comprising a delivery coupler which is adapted to removably engage the source coupler;
• a storage assembly with a housing having a storage chamber and also with a radiation shield having a window coupled to the storage chamber and which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position relative to the storage chamber,
• wherein the open position the storage chamber communicates externally of the housing and is adapted to receive the radiation source or have the radiation source removed with the first delivery member through the window, and
• wherein the closed position the storage chamber is substantially radioactively isolated within the housing at least at the adjustable window.

A method for delivering radiation to a region of tissue at a desired location along a body space wall which defines at least a portion a body space in a patient, comprising:

• removing a radiation member having a radiation source from a storage chamber in a radiation shielded storage assembly;
• positioning the radiation member at the desired location along the body space within the patient;
• maintaining the radiation member at the desired location along the body space within the patient for a predetermined period of time;
• removing the radiation member from the patient;
• replacing the radiation source into the storage chamber within the storage assembly after removing the radiation member from the patient;
• coupling a monitor to the storage assembly;
• and
• monitoring a predetermined parameter of the radiation member with the monitor while the radiation member is housed within the storage assembly.